Retired Brigadier General Appointed Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett has announced the appointment of a Lancaster County man as deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs in the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Retired Brig. Gen. Jerry G. Beck Jr., of Denver, Pa., succeeds Brig. Gen. (PA) Michael Gould who served as the department's deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs since June 2010. 

"General Beck served 34 years in the Guard and was deployed twice. He served at every level from private to general and has commanded at all levels from squad to division," Maj. Gen. Wesley Craig, the state's adjutant general said.

"He has a wealth of military knowledge and experience, but what's most important is that he's keenly aware of the many issues facing veterans and he will work tirelessly to provide outstanding programs and services that benefit all of Pennsylvania's veterans and their families," Craig said.

Beck, who began his new duties on July 8, will serve as the administration's principal advisor on veterans issues. He also will direct the activities of the DMVA's Office for Veterans Affairs.

Based at Fort Indiantown Gap, the Office for Veterans Affairs supervises the administration of veterans assistance programs to Pennsylvania's nearly one million veterans and their dependents, as well as the operation of the state's six veterans homes.

Beck began his extensive military career when he enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as a private in 1977. He deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2002, and then to Kosovo as commanding general of the Multi-National Brigade where he led 3,500 soldiers from the U.S., Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Armenia and Greece in 2003.

He retired as the Deputy Adjutant General – Army for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in August 2011 and most recently served as the Deputy Garrison Commander for Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County.

Beck holds a bachelor's degree in German from Millersville State College, a master's degree in instructional systems design from Pennsylvania State University, and a doctorate in organization and management with a concentration in leadership from Capella University. He is a member of several veterans and military-related organizations.

Craig praised Gould for his accomplishments during his three-year tenure as the deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs.

"General Gould expanded outreach programs to veterans and brought this vision to realization by the implementation of the Veterans Trust Fund," Craig said. "This fund is a public and private partnership which provides monetary support to all veterans in need. It brings to the forefront and gives visibility on those issues impacting veterans."

For more information about veterans programs and services, visit the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at www.dmva.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Joan Nissley, 717-861-8720

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs